Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Much of the Highlands largely dry well into the afternoon with light winds, but some local patchy light rain and varied cloud. Rain develops from the west later, setting in heavy into evening. England and Wales sees patchy rain, drizzle and low cloud, though mid & south Wales tends to improve.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Low cloud rising, mostly dry until late evening. Light wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 10mph or less until about midday, then southerly 10-15mph afternoon, tending to increase to 20-25mph by evening, then 30mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small much of daytime, feeling breezier later on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Largely dry until late, low risk a shower; rain develops during evening
Substantially dry much of the daytime, but here and there an odd patch of light rain, possibly an isolated showery burst in the afternoon, mainly toward east. Into evening, rain spills in from the southwest, becoming persistent and heavier through dusk into the night.
Cloud on the hills?
Tending to lift and break, clearer afternoon, then lowering cloud up to dusk
Varied banks of cloud at different heights in the morning, may persist on some slopes for a few hours, but tending to become confined to patches higher up and break up into afternoon. During evening, lowering from west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70% afternoon, then by dusk 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun, tending to weaken as high cloud builds, thickening later from west. Visibility very good until late.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 18th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, risk 40mph for periods high Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking, on high tops risk frequent buffeting making movement challenging. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A few showers mostly west
Occasional showery rain, most common toward and west of the A9, briefly heavy. Remnants of previous rain may linger toward the north early in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping higher areas, some breaks
Most cloud often above 800 to 1000m, but some lower patches in the morning. Tending to break higher with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best in east. Visibility very good, briefly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, trending cooler later in day. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 19th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Speed and direction likely to vary, may be often 10mph or less, but risk sudden gusts in rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but prepare for notable wind chill if exposed to gusts.
How Wet?
Heavy showers forming, risk lightning
Largely dry start, then scattered showers forming toward middle of day, developing increasingly into heavy bursts of rain widely in the afternoon, moving around slowly to give rain locally for an hour or more. Risk of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Forming mostly around rain
Some patches briefly around upper slopes in morning, but many mountains clear through middle of day. During and after rain, cloud lowering over tops, ragged patches to lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly early in day, then cloud bubbling up and filling in. Visibility very good, reducing to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, little change all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain spreads to most places on Monday night as a frontal system moves eastward. Low pressure to the north will gradually drift south to envelop most of Britain into midweek, bringing showery conditions widely, some more organised bands of rain at times. Some heavy and thundery downpours forming, mostly into the afternoons in the second half of this week, becoming focused further south with time. Fresh westerly winds turning northerly and temperature lowering later in the week, dropping close to freezing on high Scottish tops by Friday and frost may occur in Highland glens over a couple of nights. Drier weather is likely by the weekend as higher pressure builds.